Baked Nachos with Ground Beef (Printable)

Crispy chips loaded with seasoned beef, melted cheese, fresh tomatoes, jalapeños, beans, and creamy toppings.

# What You Need:

→ Beef Mixture

01 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
02 - 1 pound ground beef
03 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 teaspoon chili powder
06 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
07 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
08 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
09 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
10 - 1/4 cup tomato sauce

→ Nachos Base

11 - 8 ounces tortilla chips

→ Cheese

12 - 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
13 - 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese

→ Toppings

14 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, diced
15 - 1/2 cup canned black beans, drained and rinsed
16 - 1/4 cup sliced black olives
17 - 1/4 cup sliced jalapeños, fresh or pickled
18 - 1/4 cup red onion, finely diced
19 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
20 - 1 avocado, diced
21 - 1/2 cup sour cream
22 - 1/2 cup salsa

# How To Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
02 - Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add onion and garlic; sauté for 2 minutes until fragrant.
03 - Add ground beef and cook until fully browned, breaking apart with a spoon, approximately 5 minutes.
04 - Stir in chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Add tomato sauce and simmer for 2 minutes. Remove from heat.
05 - Arrange half the tortilla chips on a large baking sheet or oven-safe platter. Top with half the beef mixture and half the cheeses. Layer remaining chips, beef, and cheese.
06 - Bake in the oven for 8 to 10 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbling.
07 - Remove from oven and immediately sprinkle with cherry tomatoes, black beans, olives, jalapeños, and red onion.
08 - Garnish with cilantro and avocado. Serve hot with sour cream and salsa on the side.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • Everything cooks in under half an hour, so you can go from craving to eating without losing momentum.
  • Layering the chips and toppings means every bite has the perfect balance of crunch, cheese, and flavor.
  • You can swap, add, or skip ingredients based on what is in your fridge and no one will ever know.
  • It feeds a crowd or just you on a Tuesday night with equal satisfaction.
02 -
  • Layer the chips and toppings instead of piling everything in the center, or you will end up with plain chips around the edges and a soggy mess in the middle.
  • Do not skip preheating the oven because starting with a hot oven keeps the chips crispy while the cheese melts.
  • Add the fresh toppings after baking, not before, or they will wilt and lose their brightness.
  • Use two kinds of cheese for better flavor and texture than one type alone.
03 -
  • Toast the spices in the skillet for thirty seconds before adding the beef to wake up their flavor and make the meat taste more complex.
  • Grate your own cheese instead of buying pre-shredded because it melts smoother and does not have the anti-caking coating that makes it clumpy.
  • Use a large baking sheet with a rim to catch any cheese that drips, and line it with parchment paper for easy cleanup.
  • Add a squeeze of lime juice over the finished nachos for a bright, tangy finish that ties all the flavors together.
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